Comparison Between the Effect of Turbinoplasty With and Without Posterior Nasal Nerve Neuroectomy in Patients of Allergic Rhinitis Not Responding to Medical Treatment

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kobry Elkobba Military Hospital, Ministry of Defense, Cairo, Egypt

2 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine [for girls], Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

3 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Armed Forces College of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Allergic rhinitis is a common condition that can be challenging to manage, especially when patients do not respond to standard medical treatments. Turbinoplasty is a surgical procedure commonly used to address nasal obstruction in these patients. Posterior nasal nerve neuroectomy is an emerging technique that aims to provide additional symptom relief by targeting nerve endings in the nasal cavity. However, the comparative efficacy of turbinoplasty with and without posterior nasal nerve neuroectomy remains understudied.
The aim of the work: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of turbinoplasty with and without posterior nasal nerve neuroectomy in improving symptoms and quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis who have not responded adequately to medical treatment.
Patients and Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted on a cohort of 60 allergic rhinitis patients who underwent either turbinoplasty alone [30 patients] or turbinoplasty with posterior nasal nerve neuroectomy [30 patients]. Symptom scores and complications were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively to compare the outcomes between the two groups.
Results: There is a statistically significant difference between the studied groups. All cases in both Group A and Group B were relieved from nasal obstruction after the operation. In Group A, 56.7% of patients still had rhinorrhea, while none of the cases in Group B experienced rhinorrhea. Additionally, 46.7% of patients in Group A complained of sneezing after turbinoplasty alone, whereas only 3.3% of cases in Group B had sneezing. Furthermore, 30% of patients in Group A still reported itching after turbinoplasty alone, while 20% of cases in Group B experienced itching.
Conclusion:  The addition of posterior nasal nerve neuroectomy to turbinoplasty appears to provide superior symptom relief in patients with allergic rhinitis resistant to medical treatment. This combined approach may offer a promising surgical option for patients with persistent allergic rhinitis symptoms.

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